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pre school learning

8y, 5m agoPosted 8 years, 5 months ago

my little boys just turned 5 and is due to finish nursery school next week (scottish terms) he's doing great and I and they are very happy with his progress but I was thinking I might try and teach him some more stuff over the summer as a kind of head start, any teachers or other parents that have done this got any advice? useful websites? products? all help apreciated, im sure we all know how important it is to give the littluns a good start in life :)

ace most little ones dont have brains that need a rest and its good to get a head start when you dont realise you are learning:thumbsup:

ah i see, i really shudnt have posted anything in here tbh :oops: im not a father, and have no idea about what type of educational stimulation children need when they are 5 lool my bad......ill b quiet now llooll

I will thanks, I do have an old laptop yes, thats partly why im asking here rather than just going to toys r us and buying something that'll teach him american lol

his motor skills are fantastic, particularly on the wii! he already knows his numbers to 100 and his alphabet, dont get me wrong im certainly no pushy parent, I just want to encourage him to continue doing his best :)

I would suggest making sure he knows the alphabet and numbers to 10. There are loads of rhymes/jigsaws you can do with this type of learning stimulus. There are even some workbooks that you can get that allow them to practice copying numbers or colouring e.g Colour in 2 umbrellas. You will need to help with the directions of what to do though. It is recognising the concept of numbers in this instance.

Presumably he is going to school after the summer. I know our youngest was a little daunted with the transition. It goes from structured 'play' to structured 'learning' so you might not want to go too heavy over the summer as they do get tired. (mine just finished P1)

as I said i'll certainly not be getting pushy or spoil his summer holidays with too much learning, i just want to encourage him to to the best he can ..... I can see others agree as ive had some rep, thanks for that :)

my daughter could read and write quite well before she went to school, and trust me this didnt do her any favours, she adored school but was bored there, it doesnt seem to matter what they are able to achieve they all start on the same books, etc,etc. My son wasnt so keen and couldn't really read or write although he knew his numbers and colours etc,etc, and he has whizzed through books, he is in year 1 and is contnually being held book as he had been through all year one books, words etc,etc by january and they refuse to move him onto year two books, so since january he has also become bored, not saying its a bad thing just saying it can lead to boredom within the class when they already know what is trying to be taught

You should dress up as a big purple dinosaur and talk to your child about maths and the alphabet. Also teach him that everyone in the world should be friends. You could invite some of the neighbours children to gain from the experience too - at least one of each ethnic group and a child in a wheel chair, or with a hearing aid, depending on what's available to you.

my daughter could read and write quite well before she went to school, and trust me this didnt do her any favours, she adored school but was bored there, it doesnt seem to matter what they are able to achieve they all start on the same books, etc,etc. My son wasnt so keen and couldn't really read or write although he knew his numbers and colours etc,etc, and he has whizzed through books, he is in year 1 and is contnually being held book as he had been through all year one books, words etc,etc by january and they refuse to move him onto year two books, so since january he has also become bored, not saying its a bad thing just saying it can lead to boredom within the class when they already know what is trying to be taught

I dont disaggree Sassie. While many schools do not streamline (and lets be honest - it is difficult to assess the kids that young) our Primary certainly do try to accommodate the different levels of learning ability so that those who need extra help get it while also making sure the others are not held back. They use a working group system. Unfortunately I think this is now largely frowned upon. Again PC brigade having far too much say!

Sadly my son has been held back since january, everytime ask i get the we are looking into moving him onto year two words, books, work etc, and that has been going on since january, we are now 4 weeks away from finishing year 1, so they acheived what they wanted, and have the nerve to write in his reading folder to make sure he reads his books, he reads his own books at home, not the books they send him home with that have had the same words in each book for the last year

Sadly my son has been held back since january, everytime ask i get the we are looking into moving him onto year two words, books, work etc, and that has been going on since january, we are now 4 weeks away from finishing year 1, so they acheived what they wanted, and have the nerve to write in his reading folder to make sure he reads his books, he reads his own books at home, not the books they send him home with that have had the same words in each book for the last year

Sassie that makes me angry:x
my son is 6 just and in year 1. He has been using year 2 books and finished them! he has now gone to the other classes to continue his education. Your sons school needs a talking to! or consider another school! makes me mad(did i say that already?)

that is a very good point well made sassie, I certainly had not thought of that so maybe I should wait and see if they will be in groups as per nursery or all staying at the same level.

you've got me thinking now hmmmmm!

thankyou for the input everyone :)

marc they dont stay at the same level in sons school for reading and due to the things he does at home his work at school is easier im sure. Unless your little one is a child genius you can only help him with extra activities as long as he enjoys them:thumbsup:
He is an individual and i am sure he can let you know if he has had enough!!! look for his weaknesses? my son has poor muscle tone so we joined gym-bobs(tumble-tots for over 4) and he has improved so much! his confidence has grown and so fast!
It can never be a bad thing imo for a child to read and write and learn rather than play nintendo games etc?
I dont want to offend its my opinion!:roll:

my daughter could read and write quite well before she went to school, and trust me this didnt do her any favours, she adored school but was bored there, it doesnt seem to matter what they are able to achieve they all start on the same books, etc,etc. My son wasnt so keen and couldn't really read or write although he knew his numbers and colours etc,etc, and he has whizzed through books, he is in year 1 and is contnually being held book as he had been through all year one books, words etc,etc by january and they refuse to move him onto year two books, so since january he has also become bored, not saying its a bad thing just saying it can lead to boredom within the class when they already know what is trying to be taught

Its an all too common problem unfortunately. There seems to be one pace in a classroom - the teachers. Those that are bright are held back, those less able, dont get the extra help they need. Its very dissapointing what goes in schools TBH and I doubt its too different anywhere in the country to what goes on in my own kids school.

Boredom ends up leading to silly behavour in a lot of cases. The helping hand often becomes a hinderence and that cant be right!

Virtually every day, both my kids get help at home. Mostly reading. Its surprising how quickly they improve - and at the end of the day, that help could be the difference between a grammer school or comprensive. I think I know which I would prefer mine to attend!

As to the OP, there are several sites that will give you help. At this age, you should be able to find some good worksheets. Most of the ones on the site I have done, will probably be a little too advance, however, there will be somethings that may be useful.

Sassie that makes me angry:x
my son is 6 just and in year 1. He has been using year 2 books and finished them! he has now gone to the other classes to continue his education. Your sons school needs a talking to! or consider another school! makes me mad(did i say that already?)

It makes me mad too, his class is already a mixed class, including reception pupils, so they are seperated for reading, spellings, etc,etc but as he is top group anyway they have just stalled for time and i gave up asking, it is even more annoying as we really thought he would struggle through school, but has flown through it all, we do lots of work at home when he chooses (typical male)

If i could move his school i would, it used to be a really good school, but i dont believe it is now, but am tied to the area as i do not drive, i know he will do well with or without their help, as my daughter has proved, she is predicted grade A's across the boards for all her GCSE's when she takes them in 2 years, it just annoys me that our children are treated as little robots rather than individuals

Its an all too common problem unfortunately. There seems to be one pace in a classroom - the teachers. Those that are bright are held back, those less able, dont get the extra help they need. Its very dissapointing what goes in schools TBH and I doubt its too different anywhere in the country to what goes on in my own kids school.

Boredom ends up leading to silly behavour in a lot of cases. The helping hand often becomes a hinderence and that cant be right!

Virtually every day, both my kids get help at home. Mostly reading. Its surprising how quickly they improve - and at the end of the day, that help could be the difference between a grammer school or comprensive. I think I know which I would prefer mine to attend!

As to the OP, there are several sites that will give you help. At this age, you should be able to find some good worksheets. Most of the ones on the site I have done, will probably be a little too advance, however, there will be somethings that may be useful.

We must be lucky then? My son has not been held back and has 4 hours typing help a week(age 6) as his writing is behind cos of hyperflexible joints. I am sorry it isnt the norm for other kids:(

It makes me mad too, his class is already a mixed class, including reception pupils, so they are seperated for reading, spellings, etc,etc but as he is top group anyway they have just stalled for time and i gave up asking, it is even more annoying as we really thought he would struggle through school, but has flown through it all, we do lots of work at home when he chooses (typical male)

If i could move his school i would, it used to be a really good school, but i dont believe it is now, but am tied to the area as i do not drive, i know he will do well with or without their help, as my daughter has proved, she is predicted grade A's across the boards for all her GCSE's when she takes them in 2 years, it just annoys me that our children are treated as little robots rather than individuals

In that case I would bang on doors til they listen!! son needed speech therapy and he didnt get it til i went to see the therapist and knocked on her door and asked her to see him. She gave me exercises to do with him there and then to start me off and he was seen in a different clinic she passed his name to within 2 weeks. I am a bulldog though:oops: lol

this is going to sound awful, but the only children in my sons school that get extra help are those that are special needs, the ones that get the extra funding, and its disgusting, my sons class has about 25 pupils i think, and they have 1 teacher, and at least 3 helpers and they dont have the time to treat them as individuals

I am not saying these children with special needs shouldnt get the extra help, what i am saying is you shouldnt need to be labelled to get extra help they shuld all be treated by their needs not their labels, hope that hasnt come across as rude

this is going to sound awful, but the only children in my sons school that get extra help are those that are special needs, the ones that get the extra funding, and its disgusting, my sons class has about 25 pupils i think, and they have 1 teacher, and at least 3 helpers and they dont have the time to treat them as individuals

I am not saying these children with special needs shouldnt get the extra help, what i am saying is you shouldnt need to be labelled to get extra help they shuld all be treated by their needs not their labels, hope that hasnt come across as rude

Hmmm. Where to start!

The main reason that there are so many kids with special needs within a mainstream class, is mostly because the councils (ie LEAs) have cut costs by closing special schools or special classes attached to mainstream schools. My eldest is one of those that gets extra help. He is autistic. He has speech and Language problems and also attention problems (unless he is interested in the task.) In most subjects he is way below average. In some, he is actually more advanced than his peers. He is given the extra funding because he does need it.

Approximately 4 years ago, I fought long and hard to stop the LEA shutting down the unit class he attended. Through an excellent teacher he was making excellent progress. I got onto local council PDS committee, where I was able to vote on the policies being passed. Alas, even though I (and others via a campaign) managed to water down what they were doing, the end result was fewer places. At the time, I felt the best place for him was still in the unit and this place was "guarranteed" (according to the LEA.)

However, as the places become shorter and the needs become more complex, the school eventually said mainstream was the best place for him. I had reservations about this at first (I did not want him to disrupt a class of 30 kids!) In year 3, he was doing OK. In year 4 he made very good progress. Now in year 5, its gone pear shaped. He's made zero progress.

With virtually no places in special unts and schools for kids with moderate learning difficulties (places now taken by children with complex and severe difficulties, this "problem" will become more and more previlant. One thing you should appreciate, is funding for classroom assistance, is not obtained easily. Parents have to fight long and hard to get it and there is not a chance in hell they would get this unless they really needed it. The problem here though, is that the funding is often taken from the child by "sharing" around the classroom. That should not be at the expense of the child it is meant for, but unfortunately that often happens.

Its very disconcerting to be told at his review 4 weeks ago, that his classroom assistant hadnt even heard him read! Its also questionable to hear he's reached a plateau, but his teacher "has learnt a lot this year"! I didnt think that was the purpose of the excersise!

As mentioned, getting funding is extremely hard. One kid that mine has had a problem with all year, has now finally also been diagnosed with autism and several other conditions. Its taken until 3/4 of the way through year five for anything to be available for him and the LEA simply turning a blind eye. (Well they would - it costs money!)

Kids do get "labelled" as "Special Needs", but there is ALWAYS a very good reason. No LEA spends money unless it has too. My Own LEA has now stopped SEN statements "to save money". Reason - "because you can trust us to give this help without needing to go through the costly process of getting a statement". And if anyone believes that, I have a prime peice of Florida Swamp Real Estate I'd be will ing to sell at a "bargain price".

Guv, it seems my post may have come across other than i wanted it too, what i am saying is ALL children should be entitled to be treated at their individual levels, whether they be special needs or not, i dont begrudge any child special needs or not getting the attention they deserve, maybe my child is being held back because more time os spent with someone else, maybe he is being held back because the teacher cant be bothered to do what she said she would, maybe he is being held back because if he reaches level 2 goals in year one then what levels can he reach when hes in year 2, as then it becomes a different schools learning, who knows what the reasons, but i do believe as i have said all children should get the attention needed, thankfully it seems my son doesnt need the extra time but he does need to be taught at a different level to stop the boredom, i had this with my daughter and her last year at the infants wasnt a good one as she was bored brainless, again thankfully this didnt stop her being where she has got to today

try introducing your child to something not on the curriculum for their age, like spanish or french. Languages are soaked up at this age. It will keep their brains active and it wont interfere with anything the school are gonna try and teach them later?

yes he does. But the school didnt hold him back with his reading etc...which is what sassie is saying?

Yes, that was what Sassie is saying. All I can say, is if true, you are extremely lucky. It is far from the norm. It probably hasn't changed that much either! I could read and write before I started school - and with a birthday in August, I was the youngest in my class. I was given the same books as everyone else who were just starting out. That's were it starting going downhill! Through boredom, I become disruptive and loved to be the class joker. Hell, what did I care? Everyone was nowhere near my level! Unfortunately, what I didnt notice, was where others were paying attention, they not only caught me up, I was being overtaken. I just scraped in, in the end to get to a grammer school. But that really shouldnt have been the case. Looking back, it was such a wasted opportunity. I don't blame myself - I was just a very young kid, but if I wasn't held back........

Now I can see a similar scenario happening with my youngest. He's also the 2nd youngest in his class and not due to be 8 for another month. Teachers hate to label abilities in a class, but has said he is the brightest in the class with only 2 others of equal ability. Now here's the rub. The books he is given are total pap for his ability. He has the reading age of a 10 year old. He does his reading at home with us and is quite fluent and expressive. I have no problem with home help, but really would think it helpful to keep him on track, by giving him books that were more appropriate for his ability. It ain't gonna happen! I just hope he doesn't end up playing the fool - but the signs are now already starting to show with some silly behaviour that is a recent aquisition! Hmmmmm. Needless to say, its something we are keeping a very close watch with!

what can i say thats awful Guv...we are so lucky Tom has help-and she is excellent with him. I agree completely its wrong-am so sorry!

Dont be sorry - be thankful!

sassie

Guv, it seems my post may have come across other than i wanted it too, what i am saying is ALL children should be entitled to be treated at their individual levels, whether they be special needs or not, i dont begrudge any child special needs or not getting the attention they deserve, maybe my child is being held back because more time os spent with someone else, maybe he is being held back because the teacher cant be bothered to do what she said she would, maybe he is being held back because if he reaches level 2 goals in year one then what levels can he reach when hes in year 2, as then it becomes a different schools learning, who knows what the reasons, but i do believe as i have said all children should get the attention needed, thankfully it seems my son doesnt need the extra time but he does need to be taught at a different level to stop the boredom, i had this with my daughter and her last year at the infants wasnt a good one as she was bored brainless, again thankfully this didnt stop her being where she has got to today

No probs. I wasn't biting. I dont disagree with the points you're making about not holding kids back. Its plain wrong. I just thought it warrented to be said that SEN kids only get that help because they need it. More often than not, they need it but dont get it!

Yes, that was what Sassie is saying. All I can say, is if true, you are extremely lucky. It is far from the norm. It probably hasn't changed that much either! I could read and write before I started school - and with a birthday in August, I was the youngest in my class. I was given the same books as everyone else who were just starting out. That's were it starting going downhill! Through boredom, I become disruptive and loved to be the class joker. Hell, what did I care? Everyone was nowhere near my level! Unfortunately, what I didnt notice, was where others were paying attention, they not only caught me up, I was being overtaken. I just scraped in, in the end to get to a grammer school. But that really shouldnt have been the case. Looking back, it was such a wasted opportunity. I don't blame myself - I was just a very young kid, but if I wasn't held back........

Now I can see a similar scenario happening with my youngest. He's also the 2nd youngest in his class and not due to be 8 for another month. Teachers hate to label abilities in a class, but has said he is the brightest in the class with only 2 others of equal ability. Now here's the rub. The books he is given are total pap for his ability. He has the reading age of a 10 year old. He does his reading at home with us and is quite fluent and expressive. I have no problem with home help, but really would think it helpful to keep him on track, by giving him books that were more appropriate for his ability. It ain't gonna happen! I just hope he doesn't end up playing the fool - but the signs are now already starting to show with some silly behaviour that is a recent aquisition! Hmmmmm. Needless to say, its something we are keeping a very close watch with!

tbh i just went in and told them he had read all the books they had in his classroom-and he was anxious to move on-so they let him. I hope its just a phase for your son(my daughter started funny business at that age and is still the same age 15:roll:

yeah I can very much relate to being the class joker and also I didnt do so well because of it despite a promising start, I just feel that giving mini me a nudge in the right direction and trying to keep him on the straight and narrow can only be a good thing, I think from reading the above comments I will not try and get him the books and material he will be using as there is a good possibility that if he takes it in well it will lead to boredom within the class.

So in this instance I think I will make an effort to find out what material he will be using then make a point of using something different, at this stage i'll attempt to get him reading a bit and able to form his letters better, he does this now but often .... as an example forms his C back to front.

All input very much apreciated folks, you've certainly opened my eyes to things I had not thought of :)

yeah I can very much relate to being the class joker and also I didnt do so well because of it despite a promising start, I just feel that giving mini me a nudge in the right direction and trying to keep him on the straight and narrow can only be a good thing, I think from reading the above comments I will not try and get him the books and material he will be using as there is a good possibility that if he takes it in well it will lead to boredom within the class.

So in this instance I think I will make an effort to find out what material he will be using then make a point of using something different, at this stage i'll attempt to get him reading a bit and able to form his letters better, he does this now but often .... as an example forms his C back to front.

All input very much apreciated folks, you've certainly opened my eyes to things I had not thought of :)

makes sense although the school doesnt buy all the material available- ask what scheme they use and see if you can introduce some of it so he is familiar with it but not bored:)